Richard Wright returned to action after his knee ligament injury but couldn’t prevent the reserves from losing 2-1 to Wycombe Wanderers at Playford Road on Wednesday afternoon. Man mountain defender Luke Oliver put the Chairboys in front with Ed Upson equalising just before the break, but Jerome Federico’s 25-yard shot in the final moments won it for the visitors.

Lee Martin, playing up front off Ronan Murray, had managed a couple of blocked efforts before central defender Luke Oliver headed home a corner to put a Wycombe side featuring former Blue Matt Bloomfield in front.

Wright had no chance with the goal and it wasn’t until the 22nd minute that the former England stopper made his first significant contribution, parrying away a well struck Stuart Beavon shot.

Right-back Jack Ainsley wasn’t far away from a goal for Town just before the half hour but screwed his shot wide of goal after a promising run.

Bermudian winger Reggie Lambe almost got the Blues back on terms in the 37th minute when he deftly took down a long ball over the top with his chest, beating the keeper in doing so, but Adam Hinshelwood got back to clear off the line.

Town got back on terms five minutes before the break, Ronan Murray crossing from the left, Devann Yao flicking the ball on and Ed Upson slamming the ball past former Norwich academy keeper Steve Arnold in the Wycombe goal.

Troy Brown picked up an early second half yellow card for a mistimed tackle, before Upson saw a freekick from 25 yards cannon off the post. Lambe’s rebound was blocked.

Lee Martin shot over in the 56th minute with the Blues pressing for a second. On 65 Devann Yao, playing wide on the left, was replaced by Luke Hyam. On today’s evidence the American looks raw but not without talent.

Ainsley headed Quinn’s 68th minute corner over, then the Irish midfielder shot only just too high.

Keeper Arnold saved from Murray, then at the other end Wright was forced into a rare save when Lewwis Spence’s low shot came through a crowd of players.

Wright made an even better save as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, standing up to Beavon when the striker was through one-on-one and blocking his shot.

As the game moved into injury time, sub Luke Hyam scuffed a shot wide and moments later Wycombe snatched the victory.

Sub Jerome Federico had caused the Blues and left-back Seb Dunbar in particular a number of problems since being introduced and with the final kick of the game unleashed a 25-yard strike which beat Richard Wright, struck the underside of the bar and crossed the line.

Town probably deserved more than the defeat but didn’t take their chances earlier in the second half.

Wright might feel he might have got to the winning goal had he been closer to full match sharpness, although it was a fine strike, but otherwise the keeper will be happy with his first game back.

Young central defender Tom Eastman was again probably the pick of the outfield players with Lee Martin once more failing to make the sort of impression you would hope he would at reserves level. Alan Quinn put in his usual solid but unspectacular display.

Boss Roy Keane watched the game along with first team coach Tony Loughlan, chief scout Steve McCall and fitness coach Antonio Gomez, while young left-back Shane O’Connor was also amongst those present at Playford Road.

Reserves: R Wright, Ainsley, Dunbar, Quinn, Brown, Eastman, Yao (Hyam 65), Upson, Murray, Martin, Lambe. Unused: McLoughlin, Cawley, McKeown.

Photo: Action Images

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:22 - Feb 24 Hmmm! Losing to WW (no disrespect) doesn't look too good on paper. But I don't know the circumstances ......
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arc added 16:34 - Feb 24 And letting in a 25-yard shot doesn't sound too good for RW either. But who knows?...
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brockleyblueboy added 16:50 - Feb 24 I know this could be controversial, but the reserves are at suchh a low level who really cares. All it does is serve to get players fitness up and a little bit of match practise. When the reserve league was at a higher level I used to take quite an interest as the players coming back from injusry or on the fringe of the sstarting 11 were playing similar opposition. Now the reserves is a joke. Sorry guys. So all in all who cares if we lose to Wycombe.

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PimsNumber1 added 16:56 - Feb 24 it was a great strike to be fair to RW . Super accuracy and off the bottom of the bar. The scorer looked very useful and I think hes left footed. Keano sign him up ! Agree with Phil that eastman was very good ( wrighty kept calling him grandad ! ) . wrighty should be a manager , he yelled and gave orders to EVERYONE . Upson had a good game and Murray is good for his age , maybe better than wickham , but alot smaller but did very well. Their team looked more experienced and older so maybe thats why we lost to a league 2 reserve team ! not good on paper. Martin was lively and full of tricks as usual but shoots on sight too often ( hoggs the ball) with the usual no end product. i just cant see this guy ever looking a 1.5 mill player unfortunately.

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Wallingford_Boy added 17:15 - Feb 24 Murray better than Wickham, hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. BTW Wycombe are one of the best sides in the league.
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Seasider added 17:53 - Feb 24 I think a loss to WW reserves at home shows how low this club has sunk,I bet Wanderers didn't have a £1.5m player in their side and a former international in goal.Have just spoken to a regular QPR supporter who said Priskin £1.7m didn't look at all at ease during the 1 1/2 games he played for them so far and is now injured.
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jas0999 added 18:03 - Feb 24 Deary me! People moaning about the reserves now! These type of games are used primarily for fitness. The result is somewhat irrelevant. I am leased RW is returning to fitness although I doubt (and this is nothing personal) that we will see him play for Town again. I suspect his wages will be very high and one area Roy will try to offload. We can't have a high wage earner warming the bench. Muprhy will clearly be above him. Shame.

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blue_em_away added 18:05 - Feb 24 Bit harsh on wrighty. It was a great shot from 20 yards not 25. Not many keepers would have got it. Yes Yao has loads of talent but still plays like a yank. COULD be a good signing.
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blue_em_away added 18:14 - Feb 24 Can't agree about Eastman. His fault for the 1st goal. He lost his man. Murray is NOT better than Wickham, good little player but could not hack it in the Championship.
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osborne1nil added 18:17 - Feb 24 Well done Wrighty, good return. Keep pressure on Murphy and be ready to step in when/if Murphy is dropped by Keane or is injured. Hopefully you will get another chance for the first team as I'm sure that you are inside M.E. wage structure and I'm sure that I read on here or in Green'un something about Keane looking at extension to contract?
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jas0999 added 18:42 - Feb 24 osborne1nil - good point actually - now you mention it there was talk of a new contract. However, I wouldn't mind betting RW is on more money than the other two keepers . . . bottom line is he is probably within the wage structure, BUT Roy may have to reduce the wage bill and with two other senior keepers . . . Don't get me wrong, despite some poor games this season I have always been a fan.

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PimsNumber1 added 19:34 - Feb 24 i have not seen anything special from wickham at CCC level and obviously havnt seen Murray play tat that level as he hasnt been selected. However murray looked faster and more skillful today than i remember wickam being for the reserves or even at u18 level where he still hasnt impressed. yes im probably wrong that muurray isnt as good, but apart from bulk , skillwise there isnt alot in it . maybe wickham will be a good player one day and i know he isnt 17 yet but i really dont think he is a better prospect than rhodes and Rhodes was sold , unfortunately.

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Reggie_Perrin added 20:39 - Feb 24 You can never read much into the results of these types of matches,its all about players getting their fitness levels up.
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devontractorboy added 21:25 - Feb 24 I didn't get where I am today without keeping up fitness levels Reggie.......Oh sorry time slip, seeing Reggie Perrin's name......just wanted to say I'm glad to see Wrighty back and getting through the game unscathed......still our number 1 in my opinion.
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Redmond added 22:08 - Feb 24 Hmm i know its Wrights 1st game back after ages but i think he needs to hang up his boots soon will be sad to see him go tho hopefully stay and help with coaching after or something
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biggerblue added 22:17 - Feb 24 Murray better than Wickham !!!! Lol that just shows ur knowledge of football is poor! At 14 Wickham was playing with Murray in the U16 and out scored him at 15 Wickham played with Murray in the U18 and out scored him Wickham has been moved on yet again for his development at a very high level for a 16 year old !!!!!!!!! He is finding his way at CCC level and IMO not doing a bad job of it. He is 16 for fcuk sake even at 17 and 18 he will be still learninghis trade ! The boy is learning at a fast rate of knots, bloody he'll give him a chance , he is not the finished product! Don't get me wrong I like Murray and he will make it I'm football , he has god pace and can finish , but unfortunatley he is small and has NO strength on the ball however he may develope further as he is also only 18 years old ! So he also has time on his hands!

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osborne1nil added 09:31 - Feb 25 jas0999, I think you're probably correct in that he is the higher earner of the 3 keepers. Hopefully he is /new contract is within M.E. budget as I feel he still has many good years of football left in him, bear in mind he was player of the season last year. Its difficult to gauge how much of that poor start was down to how poor the defence was at that time too? IMO he was getting better as the season was progressing and thought that it was strange that he was dropped so that he wasn't even on the bench initially. I think if he hadn't had his injury he would have been back in the first team prior to Murphy being eligible to play. Based on the above report and a couple of posts it sounds like he had a good return and the goals that were scored were excellent goals. I think Murphy will hold on to this position until he makes a few errors or is injured and Wrighty will get another turn. Especially on the RK player rotation system!

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Nazemariner added 10:37 - Feb 25 I play for a Reserve team. Does that make me irrelavant?
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brockleyblueboy added 10:59 - Feb 25 yes. If you're not first you're last
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footyfan182 added 12:41 - Feb 25 Can't believe people are actually saying the score is irrelevant - if you don't want to win every game then whats the point and our reserves should be beating w.w they have much better training facilities than a lot of clubs out there they have much better coaches than a lot of clubs out there!!b yes they are games to make players match fit but if you are training at ipswich you should be better than people training at w.w otherwise this time nxt year they will be playing for us and our players will be playing for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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PimsNumber1 added 15:53 - Feb 25 Also its not just about fitnesss. Surely most of them want to do so well infront of Keane that they actually make it to the first team like O`connor has managed. These guys have to show application and drive and desire otherwise why dont they go to WW and get a new contract ( for less money ) ! I dont think so , so pull your finger out reserve squad. I still think Murray is as good a player technically as wickham but is small and that is a handicap in the CCC . Wickham has done nothing yet like murray , even if he has played for the 1st team occasionally. he may become a decent player but lets see. As Keane says he has a lot of potential , its whether he goes further than just that. I like the lad , just dont understand the hype even though hes almost 17 .

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